Preparing for Birth Australian Edition Partial Preview | Page 21

Newborn Care
What Newborns Need
The first three months of baby’s life can be
considered a “transition time” from womb to
world. Baby’s needs are relatively simple:
Holding
• Soothing, love and comfort: holding, rocking,
interaction such as talking or singing
• To be clean and dry: frequent nappy changes
and other physical care (bathing, caring for
umbilical cord, etc.)
• To be warm: blankets, hat or skin-to-skin with
a parent’s body
• Food: feeding every 1-3 hours or more
frequently
• Sleep: in short cycles for 16 hours or more
per day
Preview
Soothing
For the first few months, crying is a common
way your baby communicates with you. There
are many ways to soothe a crying baby, and
Know Your Limits
parents quickly learn what works best for their
baby. Some suggestions include:
It is absolutely critical that you never shake a
• Breastfeeding
• Swaddling
• Massage, touch or burping
• Singing, talking or “shushing”
• “White noise” such as a vacuum or using a
white noise app
• Motion such as swaying, bouncing or rocking
• Taking a walk or drive
• Going outside
Many babies
are soothed by
being held in
this position as
it puts gentle
pressure on the
tummy but still
keeps a parent
close and allows
movement such
as swaying.
Babies are more content and thrive when they are
held frequently, especially in the early months.
Fortunately, there is a lot of gear available to
help safely support baby near your body, leaving
your arms free. This is often referred to as “babywearing.”
Be sure to try out a variety of carriers to
find the one that
you like best and
look at consumer
information and
reviews. Consider
baby’s age, head
control, body
alignment and
room to breathe
with each carrier
you inspect, as well
as its versatility as
baby grows.
baby or act violently toward a baby in any way.
This can cause permanent brain damage or
death. If you are feeling frustrated or you are
losing your temper, put baby down in a safe
place and walk away until you are calm again.
If needed, call someone to come and help you
until you are ready to try again.
There are many different parenting
philosophies found in books and websites
that offer advice on how to comfort baby,
help baby sleep or care for baby. Every
baby and every family is different and it is
often best to trust your own common sense
in addition to the “experts.” The natural human
instinct is to hold and soothe a crying baby. The
good news is that a newborn cannot be spoiled
or held too much. Make it a goal to establish trust
with your baby and teach them that someone will
be there to care for their needs, even if that need
is simply to be held close to you.
Life with Baby 63